Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An initiative aimed to promote the diversity of the African continent and showcase its rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world has been launched by YouTube.
The social campaign, The Voices of Africa, will be used to celebrate the continent’s unique and traditional expressions through a select group of African creators.
They will create and share videos on their YouTube Channels of their unique cultural heritage stories about their local traditions and practices, conversations with friends and family, and with people in their local communities.
Some of the creators who are part of the campaign include South African creator, Seithati Letsipa, who used her video to unpack the cultural practice of Pabadimo, a thanksgiving ceremony in her culture.
Susan Wahome, from Kenya, shared a video on the secrets behind great African food while Nigerian creator ‘Stylebereme’ took her followers on a journey, unpacking her love for African Wax prints.
Additionally, Wongel Zelalem provided an in-depth look at her Ethiopian heritage, while Nigerian storyteller Steven Ndukwu travelled to Kano to take an immersive look at Dambe, a martial art of the Hausa people from West Africa.
Also, Kenya’s Kate Kendy took viewers on a journey through her history, heritage as well as the countryside, while Banele Ndaba, a South African creator, took audiences on a journey through his upbringing, where he grew up, attended school aand conversations with his family, with Reggie Mohlabi also releasing a video where he shares an in-depth look at his background with audiences.
“At YouTube, we have always prioritised and recognised the diverse cultures, creators, artists and content on the platform.
“The Voices of Africa campaign is an opportunity that allows us to spotlight the uniqueness of Africa’s cultural heritage through the different voices and experiences of creators across the continent,” the Strategic Partner Manager at YouTube, Twala Ngambi, said.
“We’ve encouraged the creators to be as creative as possible, giving them the freedom to craft their heritage stories in a way that will best relate to their audiences as well as showcase their authenticity.
‘Whether it’s taking us into their family homes, the primary school they attended, or sharing a personal family recipe with us, we believe that each story will educate, entertain and inspire audiences,” Ngambi added.
The launch of this initiative is coming ahead of the festive period, which sees many Africans visit their hometowns away from the cities in which they are based.
